Index or file.



. v Y v v.

R. D. HAYESk INDEX 08 FILE APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18, 1914.

. Iatenired Apr. 17, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

R. D. HAYES.

INDEX 0R FILE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18. m4.

Patented Apr. 17, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- R. D. HAYES.

INDEX OH HLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-18. 191

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- v 1 Ii/VJI'M.

1m 5 0% AT UNITED STATES PATENT orFIoE.

ROBERT D. HAYES, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGIIOR TO INDEX VISIBLE, INCORPORATED, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPOLATION OF NEW YORK.

INDEX OR FILE.

Specification of Letters Patent. P; ttnted Apr. 17, 1917- Application filed August 18, 1914. Serial No. 857, 534.

which the following is'a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates, in its primary aspect, to ndexes, files, lists or directories of the general type disclosed in Letters Patent No. lOtSU'Jd granted 'to Irvin; Fisher on December 2%, 191:2. in devices of the kind in question there are provided a plurality "of individually movable supporting mem- I support.

bers each et -which serves as a carrier for a "plurality of cards 0 other record members,

disposed lengthwise of the corrcs .)onding Furthern'iore, the supports orcarriers are so arranged as to provide for the overlap of the series of cards or record members carried bv. one support. or carrier relative to the series of cards or members mounted on another support or carrier; and by' preference the cards on each carrier will overlap each other to expose the margins thereof, sothat the index as a whole presents a plurality ofrows of record members so arranged that the" members of each row overlap each other in one direction and the members of the adjacent row in another direction. In the particular index shown in said patent thecarriers or supports are individually movable and insertible at any dosired point with respectto the index as an entirety,,an(.l they are freely slidable rela;

tive to each other, in a direction lengthwise of the main suppm'ting frame. The overlap of one row of cards'relative to the adjacent row is produced by fixing the bodies of the carriers or supports at an acute angle with respect to the main supporting frame, whereby each row of cards when in'assembled position, is rigidly held atan acute angle to the plane of the main supporting frame.

()ne of theprin'iary ObflBCtS of the present invention is to furnish an index or file oh the general type mentioned, or asomewhat similar type. in which the compactness of I In other words, it is intended to provide an index or file in which thecard capacity, 1'; 0., the capacity for mounting the ordinary pa- .per index cards or other record members. is

very great as compared to the space occuimproved form of movable stop ,fortlr pied by the index. It. is also desired, of

course, to effect this result Without sacrificing visibility or. ready individual interpolability and removability of the carriers or supports; and I have not only attained this end, but have p1 ovided a construction in which the individual carriers or supports can be inserted and removed with even more facility than here ;ofore.

The advantages of my index are largely the result of pro iding record supports or carriers which are not only slidable' with respect to each o;her, so as tobring them more or less closely together, but are also hinged to swing relatively to each other, whereby the desirrd compactness can be ob tained at the sainotime that facility of manipulation is inc1eased. It will be understood, of course, that the particular method of mounting each carrier orsupport so that itywill swing as, ell as'slide relative. to the other supports docs notinterfere in any way with the ready re novel of as'nppor'tat any desired point, a1'1d'1'cady insertion' ofthe same or another carrieror support at the same or another 1' oint'without the necessity of readjustingini' ivi'dually each support on either side of such point. By hingi'ng-the carriers or supports they may be closely grouped together at a comparatively large angle to the general plane of the main supporting frame, so that thedeviceis very short in length and takes up very'li-ttle-fioor space. Each carrier or support has cards mounted on both faces ofthe same, instead of on one face on ly, as heretofore. -Thisi. is

a large factor if increasinglthecard ca.-

pacity, and yet the visibility of the cards-is not sacrificed, an l, on'the other hand,. tlie manipulation of the index i s facilitated,- owing to the fact that the carriersjor sup4 port's may be freely swungto such a1 posi' the index; to pro idean index in which the' cards may be pliued. on thecarriers by sliding them on from the bottom as wellas by 1'o5= fitting them over illecarrler at an mtermedn ate pointito proade an mproved form of sliding l1inge,'a d pted foruse in card dexes and for other-purposes; to provide, 11

an no i part y broken away, of a carrier riers or supports; and tojunprove the general'construction and.operation of devices of the class to'whieh the inventioi'r relates;

To these and other ends the invention consists inthe novel featuresand (JOlHbllHttlOIlS of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of an index or directory embodying my in'iprovenien'ts, with the le' or carriers swung open;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1;

, Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the slanting or beveling of the bodies of cards at the forward edges of the carriers or leaves;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of Fig. 2;

Fig.4 is an enlarged detail of one of the carriers or supportsshowing how it is mounted on the main supporting frame";

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view ofthe carrier shown in Fig. 4., looking from the opposite side; J

Fig." 5 is a view of Fig. 5, with the cards omitted; Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on line 6-6 of Fig. 4; a

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of one of the movable sto s;

Fig. 8 is a detai face view of one of the record cards or members;

F1 9'is an enlarged sectional elevation, or support of somewhat modified form Fig. 10.is a section on line 10-10 of Fig. 9' and I Fig. 11 is a section on line 11-11 of Fn the drawings I have shown the improved device as com rising a foundation ard 20, and a plurality of slidably hinged carriers, supports or leaves 21, adapted tomount a plurality of cards vorother record members 22. At the top and bottom res ectively of the foundation board 20, are guides 23, in respect to which the carriers or leaves 21 are slidably'and hingedlymounted, as

, carriers or leaves may be swung open at any hereinafter described, so that the series of desired points-as shown.' When t opn the leaves-or carriers at 1n clined position by a movable inclined stop 2 associated with the foundation board, and a similar stop 24'is adapted to sup 'ort the leaves or carriers at the other side 0 the device in a" similar way. '"However, while I have shown the carriers "and the movable stops -mounted .a special foundation us swung oneside of the ard, it will beunderstood that 1n some cases the foundation board may be-omitted and that theicarriers and the sto smay beapplied more or less-directly to a wall of a v room, for example shown in Fig.

and to prevent the carriers from portion 27 adapted or to a supporting In column or other structure, relative to which the carriers or leaves may'swing in a horizontal plane. ()n tlie'other hand, the device may be so mounted that the carriers or leaves are arranged to swing in a vertical plane, in which case the foundation board will. usually be retained.

Referring now to the details of the con struction, it will be notedthut the guides 23 are formed of grooved strips applied to the front face of the foundation board, and facing in opposite directions. Each carrier provided with means to engage both of these strips, lower strip, in such a manner as to slide and swing with respect thereto. 1n the particular form shown each carrier or lea-f 21 consists of a flat plate, preferably of metal, suitably reinforced at the edges, spring arms 25 at the top and bottom, with projections 26 on said arms to engage the respective retaining strips or elements 23, as shown in Fig. 4. The spring arms 25 preferably extend inward yond the inner edge enlargements 26 takewhich are adapted to be sprung into the grooved guide strips 23 to engage the same slidably and hingedly. By preference the spring arms 25 will be formed as extensions on metal rods which reinforce the margins of the leaves or carriers, butthi s is not essentia The spring in: the arms permits the'latte'r to be sprung apart so that the carrier or leaf may in effect straddle the guide strips 23, with the balls 26 in engagement with the guide grooves, whereby the carrier is detachably connected with its support. When the carrier is mounted on the support it may travel freely thereinin a longitudinal direction by movement of the balls 26 lengthwisein the guide strips, and the engagement of the balls in (1., the upper as well as the.

and having to a certain extent beof the corresponding leaf or carrier, and the the form of balls,

24 hold the leaves in an inclined position, as

2, s that-the cards ma be easily read, and furthermore, they are a apted'to hold the carriers in a more or less closely grouped relation as dentally moved stri s.-

" ach stop 24 011'. the 1 ends an inclined to engage the carriers at or angle, and a 'su ly secured to the 'oundation' board. the embodiment illustrated the supportmay consist of the pro adj usta may be desired, being acci of' the guide porting-part 28,

the portion at 31, and having tenninal 32 to engage the guide strips; e

m mb

toggle members 29 are sprung inwai dljy'l as shown in Fig. 3, the terminal "32 willbe retained in tight engage- Iiientj with the eoi'res'pon ding guides 23, as shown in F ig: 3,1so that the stop is securely 1o fix dinposition' in the desired lo'ngitiulinal laid ustrhen't relative to the guides. When thetq gle members 29 are sprung outward,

as shown by the fillllines in Fig. 7, the ter- "Qniina'l: members 32*w'ill disengage the guide p5 23 that the stop my be removed. top" portion 27 is preferably iniade of a metal rod, which is sufiicicntly yieldpe nit the angnl'ar movement of the fgle;members relative toeach' other; and hot, the toggle members may be clamped 'tion and releasedby pushing or. pullespectiv'ely, on the stop portion 27. portion 27'serves as a 'sto'pfto directly. t body, portionof the adjacent cal?- cards; on said body portion, and ejections 33v at the'upper and er ext-r lt'i'es'ofjth'e step are adapted to we .g'ag e -the halls 26 and thereby prevent them from heing'moved lengthwise out of 30, thet rethining stripswhen the body portion o'f'ft carrier adjacent the stop member 154 -..t"!i2;7r. e

H llhe carriers onleaves 21 preferably con st ofisheet metali'plates, each having on he faces thereof, guide devices for the iorfother record nie'mheits. Preferably members will be in the form of in" vintegral tongues "as decards haw q #0 eeateafiai'sher Piitent' No. 1048058, and

de,.devices 3 1"vi1l preferably co nngated strips adapted to be engaged es 35m opposite side edges, subas -sliown in said patent. The ed go a 34% of each nide strip 34 are of no se' spaced outwarif from the face of the to Such antettent as to permit the 35'lto passbehind said edge portions he for m' shownithefguide strips 34, [site faces ofttlre'leat', are limlll'iatwit," hy means of a plurality'of heleafot carrier interposed there- IS iShQWIl in "Fig, (3. The eyelets 3t: are spaced apart at suitable distances out the leng thl ot' the guide stripe passed through 'ior-tions of said 1 oh are in contact with the lent, the oortions otleach' strip being ol'i'sct ilfnmn the leaf to fornrthe guide [sf 34$, fasftd scribed fiui talfile retain Jfs orhOokgzS? are n'efe'rably assoedQWith the loafer end: of'each "guiile age shpport from beneath the row position to engage the stop-por- 'thie lea'fibypthe sanle securing asslng througlthoth SlllilPS and "reference to F or series of cards guided on said strip, and in the form shonn there are two clips on each side face of the leaf, or carrier disposed on opposite sides respectively of the card on the supporting strip. The cards may be flexed laterallr in order to engage the tongues back if the offset edge portions of the guide strip or a series of cards may be slid onto each guide strip from the bottom, over the clips or hooks E57,- after-which the cards are nu red down into the clips which then suppn't them, injthe manner shown particularly in Figs. 'i',llll(l The manner of mounting the cards andof interpolating new cards is substantially the same 'as in the Fisher patent above mentioned.

in order to increase the visibility of the index, when the c: rriers or leaves are closely grouped together, I provide means for producinga slant 0! bevel of a row of cards along the front or outer edgeof the correspmiding leaf or (zirricr, whereby inspection of the 'l'orward edges of the cards on the next 'that the front'cli i or hook 37 is at a some what higher elev: tion than the rear clip or ,l100lt37,-sothat tl ie lower edge of the lowermost :card is'slan ved dmvnwardly and rearwardly to a certain extent. This results in the other cards tuki'ngthc same slant with respect to the'u n'ight aidestrip with which they are engaged. and thcrehy the edges of the cards or more proper y speakingthe edge of the body of the cardsy beveled or slanted at the out-r edge of the teat or catmen as shown lietei to 5, it will benoted thatv on the opposite face of the ing' located soinev hat below the rear clip or hook 37. In this manner the forward edges ofthe two bodies of cards on oppositefaces of the carricror li at aretboth ielantedor bev clcdi-n the eanie direction, Thus the leaf and the bodies of cardson oppositesldes of '1't"present as a whole a beyeled edge'BB;

which may helreqv usefiiil, for example, in increasing the v-nulnlity of the cards when the leaves are swung over to the left with In other words, when the leaves a'rc in the pi'isition shown at the and in 2 am licreling o f' the lmilieso'r' card 5 enables one to inspect" he znarginsi otthc. ca -de; on thei'ight"hand tacos than would be possible if the edges of the cards were not slanted or beveled.

Figs. 9 10 and 11 show a slight modification of the construction, in which the ball members for guiding each carrier or leaf on the main support are separately formed, as s 'own at 26 and 26". The upper ball 26 is rotatable freely on a portion 25 of the carrier which is formed by bending downward and inward a portion. of the spring arm 25.

The guide strip 23 is turned up slightly so the ball 26 will overhang the same to a certain extent. The ball 26" is freely rotatable on an extension 25 on the spring arm 25 and engages a guide strip 23* of the special form shown. The guide strip or rail 23 is provided with an inclined surface 23" over which the ball 26 rides as the carrier is thrust toward the support so that the spring arms may be separated by the mere act of pushing the carrier laterally onto the guide or track, and without the necessity of grasping the arms and'pulling them apart.

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 also show a modified,

and perhaps a pmferable, form of stop for. the hinged carriers, to pievent them from swingin out-'ofen gement with the guide strips. 11 this case he foundation board or other .support carries. a fixed stop, which is adapted to engage the inner ed e portions of a'plurality of carriers. Pre erably this "fixed stop comprises an extension 40 on the upper guide trip, adapted to engage the inner edge of each carrier when the latter is swung laterally, to a certain extent, in either direction, so as to arrest the carrier and prevent it from being swung loose from the guide strips. A similar extension 41 may be provided on the lower guide strip to act as a stop in a similar manner. These stops project outward from the foundation board or other main support toward the carriers or leaves to an extent which will permit the desired range of swinging movement of each.

leaf or carrier as wil be obvious. .Suitable projections or like members may be fixed w atthe ends of the guide strips, in this case,

. to'prevent the carriers from sliding ofl" the guide strips at the ends, and of course various other changes may be made in the details as called for by circumstances. It will beobserved that the guide strips form in conjunction a track, which is straddled by a lurality of devices each carrying a plurality of cards or other record members.

The method of use of the improved device will be obvious, forthe most part, from the foregoing description.

In the particular form shown the, hinged carriers for the cards or other "record members will all be swung to the left when the index is about to be used, so as to take up a minimum amount of space. The outer margins of the cards or other record memberspn the righthand faces of the carriers-are then visibleto a certain extent, as shown more partlcu- Italy in Fig.2, and hence the particular card or cards to which access is desired may be easily selected by running the eye downv bility of the index in this respect is-increased. to a certain extent by beveling the edges of the bodies of cards, as previously described. When the desired location has in Fig. 2, which permits ready access-toene or more rows of cards for reading the con-- tents of the same, or for inserting additional cards at any desired point.

It is apparent that the index has ajver'y large card capacity as compared to the amount of space which it takes up. The .in--

dividual carriers or leaves 21 are not only hinged in addition to being slidable, but,

they may be placed in and removed from position on the main support with very little effort; When once placed in position, moreover, dislocation is effectively prevented, ex: cept when it is desired to remove a carrier,

which can be easily done by springing apart 1i the springarins 25 thereof, so as to disengage the guide strips.

toward the operator. By the sliding arrangement of the carriers an additional.

The arms may be} sprung apart merely by pulling the carrier.

carrier may be inserted at any desired point,

and by hinging the carriers manipulation of the index., is made very easy, for access to either face of a carrier is readily provided.

Furthermore, the slidable hinging of the carriers enables them to be closely grouped to-'.

gether at a comparatively large angle to the plane of the main support, so that the index is rendered comparatively short and takes up veryi little floor space. 1

The sflzjiove description enters intothe de tails of the particular forms ,of my inven tion which have been selected for illustra tion' and description, but it will-be understood that theinvention is not limited-"to such details, and that various modifications of the construction may beadopted within the scope of my inventive idea as expressed in the claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an index or file, a guide, a carrier,

and means for slidably hinging the cari rier to the guide. such that. it. may be re-- moved from the guidexat an intermediate point; substantially as described.

2. In an-index or file, the combination of I a track or guide, a plurality of record carriers, and means for slidably hinging said record carriers to said. track or guide such.

that each carrier is attachable and removable independently of v the others; substantially as'describe I In an index or file, the combination of .70 the margins of the hinged carriers. The V1.81

a guide, a plurality carriers, and means for slidably hinging" said carriers to said guide such that each is attachable and re movable independently of the others at any point in the guide; substantially as described.

4. In an index or file, the combination of a uide, a plurality of carriers, means for sli ably hingm each carrier to said guide suchthatitis reely attachable and removable at any intermediate point in the guide independently of the other carriers, and a plurality of record members mounted on each carrier; substantially as described.

5. In an index or file, the combination of a main supporting means, and a plurality of slidably bin (1 leaves or carriers each freely' removab e from said supporting .means without disturbing the others; sub

stantially as described.

6. In an index or file, the combination of a main support, and a plurality of hinged leaves or carriers slidable lengthwise of said support and each freely attachable and removable without disturbing the others; substantially as described.

5 7. In an index or file, the combination of a track or guide, a plurality of record cartiers, and means for slidably hinging said record carriers to said track or guide in such a manner. that an intermediate carrier 15 a freely attachable and removable with re spect to the track the other carriers.

8; In an index or file, a plurality of card carriers a common support therefor, and

or guide Without shifting means or slidably hinging each carrier on said support in,- a detachable manner; substantially as described.

9. In ,an index or file, the combination 0 a track and a plurality of hinged record membersislidable lengthwise of said track and each individually attachable and re? movable" in a lateral direction relative said track; substantially as described.

10. In an index or file, the combination of aguide, a plurality of carriers disposed latter to said track or. guide such that. an

intermediate carrier is freely attachable and removable with respect to the track or guide Without shifting or disturbing the other carriers, and such that each carrier is a achable and removable at any point in the track or guide.

12. In an index 'or file, the combination of a horizontally disposed track comprising described. I7

spaced strips or Jails, a plurality of vertically disposed carriers, means for slidably hinging each carr or to the respective strips or rails, and a virtically disposed row of record members mounted on each carrier; substantially as described.

13. The combin ition of a track or guide member having p \rallel retaining elements, a. member adapter to slide on said track or uide member, ore of said, members straddling the other member, and said second named member baing attachable to or removable from sail track or guide member at any point in the length of the latter by lateral movement 1oward or away from said track or guide me'nber; substantially as described.

14.. The combinition of a track or guide member having p: Lrallel retaining elements, and a member h: ving spaced arms to engage said retaini'lg' elements, one of said members straddlirg the other, and said sec- .ondnamed memb er being attachable to or.

removable from tle first at any point in the length of said fi'st member by a lateral movement toward or away from said first member, said secmd member adapted to swing relatively in said first member when the. parts are. assembled; substantially as described. p

15. In anindex or file, the combination of a track comprising spaced parallel members, a plurality of carriers, and means for slidably hinging each carrier to the respective track membi rs; substantially as described.

wi In an index or file, the combination of ai rack compris ing parallel spaced membersg'a carrier dis iosed transversely to said track, and means for slidably hinging said carrier to the respective track members so h that-said carrier is attachable and removab e at any intermediate point; substantially as In an index 3r file, the combination of a tin jzznd a plrrality of hinged carriers mounted in the tr 10k and each interpolable at any point in tin length of the track; substantially as desclibed.

18, In an index )r file, the combination of a guide and earns one of said parts straddllng the other, a nd permitting a relative swinging movement, and a plurality of reeord members mounted on the carrier; substantiallyas described.

19. In an index )r file, the combination of a horizontal track. acarrier disposed transversely to the tree. I, one of said parts strad-; dling the other so as to permit a swinging movement of the c arrier, and a plurality of record members mounted on the carrier; substantially as d scribed.

20. The combination of a tracker guide member having parallel retaining elements, a member having s paced arms to engage said one side ed e of the body of cards slanted or hevoloil: su stantially as described.

313. In an index or file. a card carrier, a plurality of cards slidablethereon, and a. mttmu support for the cards slanted with respect to the longitiulinal axis of the carrier; substantially as described. v

' 37. In an index or file, the combination of a leaf or carrier, 11- plural-ity of cards slid able on said leaf, and means for supporting the lower edge of theslowermost card on a slant with respect to the longitudinal axis of the carrier; substantiallygsdeseribed.

38. In an index or file, a leaf or carrier, a

strip secured on one faced the same, a plurality. of eardshaving tongues to engage said strips -and-clips .on opposite sides of therefrom to form springarms, and ballslia d members at the free ends of saidqprlng arms; substantially as described.

rod portions rep and extended- 41. In anindex or file, the combination of a support, a two-1 ail track on said support, a carrier element, a pluralityof record members on said carrier element, and means to secure said carrier element to said track as it is pushed tows-1 'd the same; substantially as described. a

42. In an index or file, a leaf or carrier comprising a late having a pair of spring arms forattac in it to a support; substantially as described. V a

43. In an idezz or file, the combination of a track'comprising parallel members,- arms to engagerihe respective members, a card support ng strip extending between and deonnecting'sa id arms, and aplurality of cards"'slidable on said strip; substantially as described.

44. In an vindex or file, a-card-carrying member having a spaced' supporting parts adapted twstradc'le a suitab e track and to slide and swing (n gsaid track said member laterallyengagea ole with an laterally removable from sai length thereof sl lbsta-ntially as described.

flu witness whereof, I- have hereunto-set my hand on the-15th (la of August, 1914. p ROB ,lRT D. HAYES. Witnesses: v,

llama E. ROCKWELL,

Jmsm're Wammmn l track at any point in the 55 

